Skip to content

walt disney world

Magic Kingdom Trip Report

I spent a long day at the Magic Kingdom Saturday. Summer crowds were evident, but it wasn’t oppressive. If anything it might have been a little lighter than usual. But that may be related to changed vacation patterns with the holiday weekend coming up.

Sadly, the park appears to be cutting back on some of the simplest maintenance. Many attractions were covered in litter. Splash Mountain was particularly bad with water bottles and gum on nearly every surface. We went on Splash 5 minutes after opening too, so there was no excuse not to clean up during the over night shift.

Ended the night with a viewing of Spectromagic. They’ve slowly been upgrading this old parade and last night I noticed a ton of new costumes. It’s still a great parade, but it could use some additional sprucing up and perhaps a new float or two. Technology has advanced so far since when it was created, you know there is some out of this world stuff they could be doing.

I’ve put a few photos down below and more up on Flickr for your browsing pleasure.

Read More »Magic Kingdom Trip Report

More Details on Changes coming to Pleasure Island and Downtown Disney

This just in from Walt Disney World. They’ve sent along more details of their bold new vision for making Downtown Disney even more family friendly and removing all of the more adult-targeted entertainment.

Some thing to note, it looks like the ‘Pleasure Island’ name may stick around, although I imagine the final decision has yet to be made on that.

Finally, they explicitly don’t mention “The Adventurer’s Club” in the press release. That tells me they’re waiting to see if there is sufficient desire from the public to save the unique themed experience. So get the letter writing campaigns and websites launched if you want to save it for future generations.

Of course there is always the rumor that “The Adventurer’s Club” will be moved and used as part of the new boutique park “Night Kingdom”, or whatever they’re calling these days.

Update: well this FAQ on the Pleasure Island official page says that Adventurer’s Club will be closing. It also says that in lieu of admission to Pleasure Island they’ll be substituting a round of golf at Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course… hmmm.

Additional details below the cut:

Previously: Pleasure Island to Close its Night Clubs.
Read More »More Details on Changes coming to Pleasure Island and Downtown Disney

Pleasure Island to Close all Night Clubs and Retheme for Families

Back on April 16th DisneyGossip.com reported that Pleasure Island would soon be closing its clubs while Disney implemented a new family friendly feel for the whole general Downtown Disney Area. Today Disney finally made the official announcement. Put September 27th down on your Calendar as… Read More »Pleasure Island to Close all Night Clubs and Retheme for Families

The Disney Blog on eBay

I’ve put up a few unique Disney items for auction on eBay and have more lined up to list when I get some spare cycles. There’s one hand-crafted Mickey Mouse two page scrapbook layout designed by my talented wife and a collection of Year Of A Million Dreams merchandise including a unique 1st day collection from the opening of Toy Story Midway Mania! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

When you bid on these unique Disney Collectibles on eBay you get a real cool piece of Disney history and you help The Disney Blog at the same time. Thanks for bidding and good luck.

Click below the cut for a widget with photos of the items

Read More »The Disney Blog on eBay

Vintage Mickey Mouse toys at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

What’s inside the Cathay Circle Theatre replica at Disney’s Hollywood Studio? Why vintage Mickey Mouse toys, of course. Concept art for the re-made entrance plaza to California Adventure shows them getting their own Cathay Circle Theatre replica. I hope they leave this collection alone.

Magic Kingdom 1971 Video – wow

Here’s a quick video introducing Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in song and dance. Check out the groovy outfits. Those dancers are the “Kids Of The Kingdom”. The park was a few weeks from opening to the public, note the very unfinished Tomorrowland.

Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex lays out plans for future

Scott Powers of the Orlando Sentinel has a great interview with Senior Vice President of Global Sports Enterprises for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Ken Potrock. That means he oversees the Wide World Of Sports complex at Walt Disney World which will soon be transitioning… Read More »Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex lays out plans for future

Updated Villains Exhibit at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

I’m finally beginning to catch up on some photos I’ve taken at the parks over the last few months. To start, here is a Flickr set slideshow with many of the updated exhibits from the AFI – Villains Exhibit at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Included are… Read More »Updated Villains Exhibit at Disney’s Hollywood Studios